Hawks at Knicks Betting Tips & Prediction | NBA Preview

After a strong start to the season that had gamblers thinking of a potential corner being turned, the Atlanta Hawks are reverting back to factory settings.

Atlanta is in a free fall, leaving gamblers drowning in red ink. As a result of their slump, the Hawks are fighting to hold onto the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ironically, the Hawks' problems began when their best player, Trae Young, recently returned from a 22-game absence due to a right quad contusion. Young’s return has thrown the Hawks out of sorts and into playoff peril. Late on, his status has reverted to game-time decisions.

On Friday night, things will not get any easier for the Hawks and Young. Atlanta will hit the road to take on one of the Association’s best teams.

The New York Knicks are coming off a recent NBA Cup championship and are one of the most profitable teams in the NBA.

Hawks at Knicks Preview

On Friday, January 2, 2026, the New York Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tipoff time is 7:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on Prime Video.

Public Betting Odds Factors

The Hawks are a difficult sell to the casual sector and sharps alike.
Atlanta could be a decent contrarian value as a team that is unwanted but getting an enhanced price.
Oddsmakers have to sweeten to pot on Atlanta to even out the betting action and scare off the public from loading up on New York.

Hawks at Knicks Predictions

Handicapping Factors to Consider

New York is a serious team and contender with good balance.
The Knicks play a full court game that makes them one of the NBA’s most complete teams.
Atlanta’s poor defense takes too many possessions off and makes it difficult for them to cover the NBA spread.
Trae Young epitomizes the lack of commitment to defense for Atlanta.
New York is expensive but has shown much more reliable betting value this season.
Trae Young’s availability issue has become a drag on the Hawks.

Hawks at Knicks Prime Best Bet: New York Knicks

Hawks at Knicks Betting Tips

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta has NBA metrics of 11th for scoring offense, 7th for field goal percentage, 5th for 3-point field goal percentage, 16th for free throw percentage, and 26th for offensive rebounding.
On defense, the Hawks have NBA metrics of 25th for scoring defense, 23rd for field goal percentage permitted, 18th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 24th for defensive rebounding.
The Atlanta Hawks are 15-19 straight up, 16-18 against the spread, and 20-14 over/under the total. Late on, Atlanta has covered two out of their last nine games.
The Hawks have gone over the total in three of its previous five matchups.
Atlanta is 10th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Atlanta is 10.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

New York Knicks

New York has NBA metrics of 4th for scoring offense, 10th for field goal percentage, 4th for 3-point field goal percentage, 10th for free throw percentage, and 3rd for offensive rebounding.
On defense, the Knicks have NBA metrics of 10th for scoring defense, 6th for field goal percentage permitted, 21st for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 4th for defensive rebounding.
The Knicks are 23-9 straight up, 19-13 against the NBA spread, and 18-14 over/under the total. Lately, New York has covered two out of its last five games.
The Knicks have gone over the total in three of its previous four matchups.
New York is 2nd in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. New York is 1.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Hawks at Knicks Head-to-Head and Key Stats

The Knicks have been a phenomenal home value this year.
New York covered the spread in 15 of their most recent 19 games at Madison Square Garden.
New York went over the total in four of their last six games at home.
Atlanta covered the spread in five of their last seven road games against the Knicks.
Four of the last six games between the Hawks and Knicks in New York went under the total.